Page 147 of Jay Bird

Jay Bird shook his head. “This isn’t on you. Tell me what happened.”

“Someone heard Willow screaming and ran to get me.” Mia pressed a trembling hand against her mouth. “Anna Grace and I were in the back. By the time we got outside, they were gone. It happened so fast.”

“Did you see them?”

“Not in person, but the cameras caught everything.”

Her eyes filled again.

“Jay Bird...it was Chen. I saw him.”

His jaw clenched. “Show me.”

“Jay—”

“Show me, Mia.”

Derek stepped beside him. “We’re all watching it.”

They gathered around a police officer who had pulled the footage onto a tablet.

Riley was already there, along with Bravo team. More members of Alpha team were arriving by the minute.

The officer started the video, and Jay Bird watched as Willow and Lily walked out of the rescue center.

Willow was smiling as she walked with Lily beside her and Ellie tucked securely beneath one arm.

Then Willow stopped.

Even without audio, Jay Bird saw the exact moment she saw Chen. Then Liu stepped into view, followed by another man who appeared behind Willow, and then a third.

Jay Bird’s hands curled into fists.

Willow grabbed Lily.

One of the men came at her. And Willow fought.

Jay Bird stared at the screen as she broke the first man’s grip so quickly that the bastard actually stumbled. Another caught her from behind, and for the briefest second Willow froze.

Jay Bird’s chest tightened as he watched her freeze, knowing exactly why. But then she moved.

She shifted her body, drove an elbow into the man’s ribs, and broke free.

“Holy shit,” Bear murmured beside him.

Jay Bird barely heard him. His entire focus remained on Willow. She was trying to get Lily back toward the building.

Jay Bird’s vision nearly went red when one of the men grabbed Lily.

Willow went after him with everything she had. She kicked him, hit him, and managed to get Lily away.

“She fought like hell,” one of the officers said quietly.

Yeah. She fucking did.

Jay Bird watched her run toward the building with Lily in her arms, and for one desperate second, even knowing the outcome, he found himself hoping she would make it.

But she didn’t, as a man tackled her from behind.